Flash floodng, funnels reported after 2-4 inches of rain

Heavy rain dropped 2 to 3.5 inches of rain in a short period over parts of western Kentucky on Thursday evening, and residual rain up to 1.5 inches will continue overnight.

A flash flood warning was in effect until 11 pm for Hickman County. Heavy rain before 9 pm will subside, but lighter showers overnight of less than half an inch could still aggravate flooding already taking place.

A flood advisory is in effect until 1:45 a.m. for a larger swath of western Kentucky, mainly in Graves and Marshall counties. 

Earlier in the afternoon and evening, several brief funnel clouds were spotted over southeast Missouri. Many were the cold-air variety of funnel that rarely touches down or causes damage.

Sixty-mile-per hour wind gusts were also recorded in southern Illinois including Wayne County.

Hail up to 3/4 inch was called in from Hopkins County in the Kentucky Pennyrile. 

The soaking rains have eliminated the need for county burn bans across the region. It will remain to be seen if this week's rain will curtail drought conditions, depending on how much runs off and isn't soaked into the soil.



Photo: A cold air funnel, reported to NWS Paducah by meteorologist Grand Dade at KFVS.